The Institute for Consumer Protection and Veterinary Affairs in the state capital of Düsseldorf warns of the dangers of using robotic lawnmowers. The increasingly popular robots can pose a deadly threat to many animals living in the garden. Crepuscular and nocturnal animals, such as hedgehogs, are particularly at risk when robotic lawnmowers are used unsupervised at night.
“Hedgehogs are particularly at risk because they do not run away when in danger, but rather curl up and raise their spines. This is a protective mechanism that protects them from enemies, but not from the rotating blades of robotic lawnmowers,” emphasises Klaus Meyer, head of the Institute for Consumer Protection and Veterinary Medicine.
The manufacturers’ user manuals usually point out that robotic lawnmowers should not be used unsupervised in order to avoid dangers for children and pets. But it is precisely this unsupervised use of the robotic lawnmower that is often the reason for purchasing it. The robotic lawnmower should do its work while the garden owner attends to other things. Due to the low noise level, these devices are often used in the evening and at night. However, crepuscular and nocturnal animals only leave their hiding places at dusk and go out to search for food at night, making them easy victims.
Other small creatures such as insects, amphibians, arachnids and small mammals are also at risk from robotic lawnmowers. Many of these animals are too small to be recognized as an obstacle by the robotic lawnmowers’ sensors. They are simply run over and chopped up. Another problem is that many animals can no longer find food in a lawn that is always well-maintained.
The Institute for Consumer Protection and Veterinary Affairs therefore makes the following recommendations for garden owners:
1. Only use robotic lawnmowers during the day under supervision.
2. Check the lawn for animals before using a robotic lawnmower.
3. As a precaution, attach a protective device to the robotic lawnmower, a so-called apple apron. These are available as accessories for some models.
